Some of the key features of Trials of Ascension will include: - A varied assortment of playable races, from the swift and tiny pixie to the huge and much-feared dragon, from the familiar elves and centaurs to the mysterious doppelgangers and raknar. Each race has its own strengths and aptitudes - some of which may not be obvious from appearances alone... - A skill-based character system that allows the character to develop their talents in an intuitive and natural fashion. - Characters are far from immortal. They suffer the ravages of time, though each race experiences this differently. There is also a limit to the number of times that they may return from the grave, so death is doubly perilous. - A skill-based character development system that allows character growth to be both natural and intuitive. - In addition to walking, running, and riding mounts, players may explore the mountain peaks and the heavens themselves by flight, whether the ability is innate to their kind or gained by magical means. The uncharted subterranean regions also lurk deep below ground, and many natural and unnatural wonders lie waiting to be found. - Players are not limited to building mere homes or even castles. Entire cities and far-flung empires can be built from scratch, won by intrigue, or conquered by force of arms. The leaders of such settlements or nations have the ability to run their fiefs in as tyrannical or open a manner as they see fit, setting or delegating all aspects of city policy and law. Of course, rulers must keep a careful eye on ambitious underlings and the restless masses... - As might be expected, players and their guilds, cities, and empires can and eventually will come into conflict. They must be prepared to defend both themselves and all that they stand for from jealous rivals and greedy opportunists who may employ methods both overt and subtle against them. - A fantasy world would not be complete complete without magic, and TerVarus is no exception. Whether it comes from the prayers of the faithful, the wills of those gifted in the sorcerous arts, or the complex concoctions of the alchemist's trade, magic is a very real force in the world of TerVarus. There are many approaches to magical study, and even spellcasters of similar strength and fields of expertise will have very different abilities. - Many relics of times long past and places of intrinsic mystery are scattered about the lands, from spell-forged weapons and jewelry to fabled locations whose discovery can be an untold boon... or an unending curse. If discovery of these alone is not enough, characters can leave a lasting influence upon the land by creating their own potent artifacts.